Kellygeygan: You own the VW stationwagon with the Turbo Diesel?
VW is apparently going to bring that engine to the US in some other platforms..Wouldn't it be nice in a VW van...?

It is a Passat sedan with the 1.9 Turbo Diesel and 5 speed, 2500 rpm is 75 mph....open the trunk lid and fold down the rear seats and you can easily fit a 12.0 and 11.0 sail between the front seats without disturbing the passenger...

There are lots of Turbo Diesel vans available...I see them everywhere in Asia.
Could it be that we dont control our own Government?

There are plenty of ďultimateĒ windsurf vehicles out there. However, Iím not sure anything that gets less than 20 mph would be a very good commute vehicle unless you had a very short commute or lots of money for gas.

I think for commuting & practicality itís hard to beat a mini-van. Just get a roof rocket for storing all your smelly stuff and make sure the rocket is thin so you can still fit in parking garages.

Other options to consider if you donít have to carry a lot of gear is the VW Jetta Wagon TDI. It is a tubo diesel that gets around 30 mph in town and 50 on the highway. The Prius is also a good option as it gets over 60 mph around town and over 50 on the highway. Just get one with the solar tilt roof so you can vent the smelly air while the interior fan runs off of solar power.

My Chrysler vans get 20 MPG. We fit 5 boards, seven sails, 5 masts,three booms,et al. all the time.
With only one of the two seats in back folded down. It is handy to have a back seat even when changing. We don't keep smelly wetsuits in there. They join us in the shower at the end of day and go back in van after they dry.
I find that we sail more often when all you need to do is jump in and go.
Used ones are modest priced.

It is unreal how efficient mini vans are at doing shit. They get great gas mileage, stacking gear on the floor starts at your feet while it is at shoulder level in most cars, big doors the list goes on.

Living in San Francisco where fitting in small parking spots is a big perk I use a Toyota Rav4 with a Thule box and bars that are long enough to fit a SUP board next to the Thule. If I could do it again I would get a wagon like the Subaru Outback because the Rav+the Thule is to tall to fit in some parking garages.

The other reason I use a Thule box is so I can leave gear in it overnight and park on the street without the fear of someone breaking into my car. Another side perk that came with it is that wet sails stay out of the car.______________________/)_____
http://east-of-maui.blogspot.com/

My Dodge Grand Caravan, 2005, now with almost 200,000 miles on it can fit a 10'10" SUP/Sailboard inside. It could also go on top, but how about that? Inside! It has the 'stow and go' feature, so take the gear out and seven passengers can get in. Comfortably. Plus I do not need to find places to store the seats in the garage or wherever. They are under the floor of the van.

My 2005 does not have a console of any sort between the seats. It allows the nose of the board to go to the dash. I do not know if the later models come with that console removeable.

I'm talking everyday vehicle you drive to work, and then go windsurfing
(assuming that you do work). Something that you can avoid getting that all to familiar WS'ing stench to travel along with you wherever you go.

Something somewhat practical too.

Let's hear your solutions and ideas.

And, Happy Thanksgiving y'all.

G

It really depends on how much gear you have and what your gear safety requirements are. Minivans are really great b/c they get decent gas milage, can fit all your gear inside, and they still have room for passengers. I think the Grand Caravans and the Honda Odyssey are the longest minivans. I have a Grand Caravan and can fit boards behind the passenger seat... I can even have a single chair behind the drivers seat next to the board rack. If you really want to keep stench out of the vehicle, than a roof is best for all the wet stuff. I have a fairly low profile Packasport box on top of my van and have no trouble driving into most parking garages.

maybe not the perfect vehicle but i can cram two boards, 4 sails, 3 masts, two booms and accompanying odds and ends INSIDE my pt cruiser and still have room for a passenger in the back seat behind the driver's seat.

i thought i was doing pretty well until i saw a guy doing the same, minus the passenger, with a mini cooper. now that the mini cooper is no longer quite as mini you could probably do better.

before the cruiser i use a full size pickup without a camper shell. never had anything stolen. in fact, twice people put equipment they found laying around the launch site in it while i was out sailing. almost ended up with a nice carbon boom until the next day when the rightful owner asked around the beach if someone had seen one.

Some guy drove a rental PT Cruiser to Punta San Carlos one year... definitely gives it a thumbs up from me!

victor wrote:

maybe not the perfect vehicle but i can cram two boards, 4 sails, 3 masts, two booms and accompanying odds and ends INSIDE my pt cruiser and still have room for a passenger in the back seat behind the driver's seat.

i thought i was doing pretty well until i saw a guy doing the same, minus the passenger, with a mini cooper. now that the mini cooper is no longer quite as mini you could probably do better.

before the cruiser i use a full size pickup without a camper shell. never had anything stolen. in fact, twice people put equipment they found laying around the launch site in it while i was out sailing. almost ended up with a nice carbon boom until the next day when the rightful owner asked around the beach if someone had seen one.

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